Soldier remembered as friendly, fun-loving at funeral

Family and friends pay their respects as they enter the church for the funeral of PFC Markie Sims at the United Missionary Baptist Church in Reddick, Fla.

Bruce Ackerman/Star-Banner photo

By Carlos E. MedinaCorrespondent

Published: Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 9:04 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 9:04 p.m.

Hundreds gathered at United Missionary Baptist Church in Reddick on Saturday to bid farewell to 20-year-old Markie Sims, who was killed in Afghanistan in late December.

The Citra native and U.S. Army private first class was mere weeks into his first deployment to Afghanistan when he died of head injuries suffered after a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle.

"You can look around here and see he was loved. He is a hero. He will forever be remembered," said Denzel Sneed, one of Sims' best friends.

The two decided to join the Army together in 2009.

The capacity crowd, which included overflow seating in the church's lower level and in back offices of the church, clapped and voiced their approval.

Earlier, a steady stream of mourners filed past Sims' open casket and looked upon the young man's body as he lay clad in his uniform.

"I couldn't believe he was really gone until I walked in there. It's really hard to think you're never going to talk to him or see him again. It's unbelievable," said Steven Bullard, who attended the construction program at Marion Technical Institute with Sims.

"I first met him at North Marion (High School) and then we met up again at MTI," Bullard said. "He was smart. He never got angry. When any of us walked into class, he'd make us laugh. You could never be in a bad mood around him."

Keri Bowan, a dean at MTI, also remembered Sims as an energetic, fun-loving student.

"He was that person everybody wanted to be friends with, and he was friends with everybody. He embodied goodness and kindness and fun," Bowan said.

He brought that same attitude to his military career, along with his lifelong nickname, "Scooter."

"Markie Tyrell Sims, Scooter, as he was known to his fellow soldiers, was a courageous young man who joined the United States Army at a time when he knew full well our nation was at war. He raised his hand to serve as a combat engineer, also knowing that the fighting would be among the toughest," said Brig. Gen. John Farris, who presented several citations to Sims' mother and wife during the funeral.

Among them was the Bronze Star, which may be awarded for acts of heroism, merit or meritorious service in a combat zone.

Dozens of motorcycle riders, many of them veterans, held American flags as Sims' body arrived at the church on Saturday. A few of the same riders, who stayed for the hours-long service, stood by and saluted as Sims' casket was loaded into the hearse headed to the cemetery for burial.

Sims' unit held a memorial service for him on Jan. 4 in Afghanistan. He was the third member of the unit to die.

"It's sobering. You hate to see our young people come home like this, but we know it can happen when we volunteer," said Frank Woods, who came to the funeral with a cousin of Shakeli and served in the U.S. Navy.

<p>Hundreds gathered at United Missionary Baptist Church in Reddick on Saturday to bid farewell to 20-year-old Markie Sims, who was killed in Afghanistan in late December.</p><p>The Citra native and U.S. Army private first class was mere weeks into his first deployment to Afghanistan when he died of head injuries suffered after a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle.</p><p>"You can look around here and see he was loved. He is a hero. He will forever be remembered," said Denzel Sneed, one of Sims' best friends.</p><p>The two decided to join the Army together in 2009.</p><p>The capacity crowd, which included overflow seating in the church's lower level and in back offices of the church, clapped and voiced their approval.</p><p>Earlier, a steady stream of mourners filed past Sims' open casket and looked upon the young man's body as he lay clad in his uniform.</p><p>"I couldn't believe he was really gone until I walked in there. It's really hard to think you're never going to talk to him or see him again. It's unbelievable," said Steven Bullard, who attended the construction program at Marion Technical Institute with Sims.</p><p>"I first met him at North Marion (High School) and then we met up again at MTI," Bullard said. "He was smart. He never got angry. When any of us walked into class, he'd make us laugh. You could never be in a bad mood around him."</p><p>Keri Bowan, a dean at MTI, also remembered Sims as an energetic, fun-loving student.</p><p>"He was that person everybody wanted to be friends with, and he was friends with everybody. He embodied goodness and kindness and fun," Bowan said.</p><p>He brought that same attitude to his military career, along with his lifelong nickname, "Scooter."</p><p>"Markie Tyrell Sims, Scooter, as he was known to his fellow soldiers, was a courageous young man who joined the United States Army at a time when he knew full well our nation was at war. He raised his hand to serve as a combat engineer, also knowing that the fighting would be among the toughest," said Brig. Gen. John Farris, who presented several citations to Sims' mother and wife during the funeral.</p><p>Among them was the Bronze Star, which may be awarded for acts of heroism, merit or meritorious service in a combat zone.</p><p>After the funeral, Sims' pregnant wife, Shakeli, clutched a stuffed teddy bear wearing a blue nightcap.</p><p>Dozens of motorcycle riders, many of them veterans, held American flags as Sims' body arrived at the church on Saturday. A few of the same riders, who stayed for the hours-long service, stood by and saluted as Sims' casket was loaded into the hearse headed to the cemetery for burial.</p><p>Sims, a member with the Army's 38th Engineering Company, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, is survived by his mother, Wanda Thompson; father, Henry Sims; grandparents, Randolph and Ella Mae Thompson; brothers, Henry Jr. and Demarrio, both of Reddick, Defonzio of California and Henry Lee Daniels of Ocala; and sister, Lashay Daniels of Gainesville.</p><p>Sims' unit held a memorial service for him on Jan. 4 in Afghanistan. He was the third member of the unit to die.</p><p>"It's sobering. You hate to see our young people come home like this, but we know it can happen when we volunteer," said Frank Woods, who came to the funeral with a cousin of Shakeli and served in the U.S. Navy.</p>